Statement by H.E. Mr. Desra Percaya, Charge d’Affaires/Deputy Permanent Representative of Indonesia at the 15th Session of the Human Rights Council

Item 7: Report of the Independent International Fact Finding Mission to investigate violations of international law resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance

Mr. President,

Madame High Commissioner,

Indonesia associates itself with the statements made by Pakistan and Egypt on behalf of the OIC and the NAM respectively.

Indonesia supports the findings of the report which conclude that the interception of the flotilla by the Occupying Forces was unlawful and that the use of force used by the Israeli soldiers on board the Mavi Marmara ship, and from the helicopters, was “unnecessary, disproportionate and excessive.”

The Government of Indonesia also concurs with the report’s findings that the subsequent detention of the passengers was an illegal act and that the treatment of the activists was cruel, inhuman and disproportionate. This in line with the testimonies from six Indonesian victims, one of whom was shot in the chest and forced to walk despite being seriously wounded.

Indeed, the separate findings of an investigation towards the Indonesian victims, affidavits from which have been submitted to the Mission as further evidence, have reinforced the validity of the other witness statements and add further weight to compelling evidence of human rights violations by the Occupying Power.

Mr. President,

In conclusion, may I reiterate that the flotilla incident was a direct consequence of the ongoing illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip and only justified to prove that we, the international community, cannot stand by and allow Israel to act, yet again, with impunity.

We urge the Human Rights Council and its members to follow up on the recommendations of this report, namely the right to an effective remedy for all victims, including judicial remedies and right to reparations. We also need to ensure that those parties found guilty of violating international human rights law are held accountable and brought to justice. They must not go unpunished.